HEART GALLERY AND NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

Loryn Smith is the CEO of Finally Home Christian Adoption Services and the mother of fifteen children, eight of whom were adopted through the foster care system, and two of whom were not formally adopted, but are considered permanent members of the family.

Loryn Smith graciously agreed to be CAP's Heart Gallery Luncheon speaker after Dr. Seita was unable to attend due to unexpected illness.

Loryn’s thirty plus years’ experience in the child welfare system has included marriage and family counseling, directing both public and private foster care/adoption agencies, and directing the Training Program for an adoption support center. Loryn has been certified through Rutger’s University and NACAC as an Adoption Competent Trainer, and has been trained in the Trust Based Relational Intervention Method and neglect.Loryn will offer practical application of parenting skills for children impacted by abuse .

On Friday, November 4, 2014 Children Awaiting Parents will be hosting our 10th annual Heart Gallery at Staybridge Suites as part of our National Adoption Month Celebration. The Heart Gallery will showcase artistic photos of foster youth who are waiting to be adopted by permanent, loving families as well as successful adoptive family portraits. We invite you to join us in increasing awareness of the need for adoptive homes for the longest-waiting, older children in foster care.

This year's Heart Gallery will feature a luncheon and workshop with guest speaker, Loryn Smith.

CAP's Stepping Up for Children Workshops

During the first two weeks of National Adoption Month, CAP will be hosting workshops open to the community on topics relating to meeting the needs of teens and families touched by adoption. The workshops are applicable to the following groups: adoptive families, child welfare professionals, educators, therapists, family law professionals, and anyone who works with or is a parent to teens (especially teens in foster care).

All workshops will take place at CAP's office in Village Gate: 274 North Goodman St., Suite D-103, Rochester, NY 14607. Enter through the seperate entrance labeled "Children's Institue" and "Children Awaiting Parents" around the back of the Village Gate plaza. Workshops will be held in the conference rooms past the front desk (take a right at the front desk and you will see a sign with the name of the workshop next to the corresponding conference room).

Thursday, November 3rd:

6:00-7:30pm “Understanding and Managing Behaviors of Children in Foster Care”, Veronica Black, CAP’s Training and Family Outreach Coordinator.

CAP held its first Heart Gallery in 2005 with the support of photojournalist students from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and professional photographers from the central western New York area. Each year, during November, National Adoption Month we celebrate and build awareness of the need for family.

Many new relationships are made through the Heart Gallery. Photographers are excited to participate, families are happy that they are being recognized and the children are introduced to a new opportunity of hope for their futures. National Adoption Month and the Heart Gallery opening make November a very special time of year for all involved.

You can tour our gallery of waiting children in person during the month of November at the following locations:

On-going Heart Galleries in Rochester at:

The Rochester International Airport

The Strong Museum

About National Adoption Month

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week, calling attention to the thousands of children in the United States waiting for permanent families. Eleven years later, President Bill Clinton expanded the awareness week to the entire month of November.

One of the goals of National Adoption Month is to promote action. There are over 100,000 children in the United States who are legally free for adoption, and each year over 25,000 youth “age-out” of the system, going out into the world without the benefit and stabilization of having a family. The odds of ending up in jail, homeless, and/or unemployed are very high, and the futures of many of those who age-out are bleak.

What Can You Do?

• Host a Heart Gallery exhibit at your place of employment: melanie@capbook.org
• Sponsor an information meeting at your faith organization: veronica@capbook.org
• Spread the word about Children Awaiting Parents through your social media – Facebook
• Sponsor a child to build resources to find him/her a loving, adoptive family!